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No. 49. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. (No. 1617.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 23rd September, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 209, dated 28th July, 1874, forwarding the understated documents relative to the ship " Queen of Nations," which arrived at Auckland upon the Gth July. 1. "Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Immigration Officer's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths during the voyage. I observe that the fittings and condenser of the vessel, the quality of the stores and water, the conduct of the officers, and the character of the immigrants, are favourably reported upon. I have, &c, I. E. Featiierston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 50. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1622.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 23rd September, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 222, dated 30th July, 1874, forwarding copy of the report of the Immigration Commissioners, at Lyttelton, upon the ship " Hereford," which arrived upon the 14th July. I am glad to notice that the Commissioners were satisfied with the arrangements and condition of the vessel, and described the character of the emigrants as " very good." I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 51. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1624.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 23rd September, 1874. I have the honor to enclose, for your information, a number of memoranda submitted to me by my despatching officer, Mr. Smith, in reply to certain complaints affecting his department, contained in the letters and reports to which he refers seriatim and in detail. I believe it will be found, on fair examination and consideration of all the circumstances, that Mr. Smith's replies are adequate, well founded, and sustained. 2. I think it right to say that, after a careful analysis of the reports upon the large number of emigrant ships which have been fitted out under Mr. Smith's superintendence, considering the vast number of people who have been sent to the colony, and the many difficulties inseparable from such a service, I am surprised as well as gratified to know that so few difficulties that could be avoided by foresight and care on this side have arisen. Difficulties which no care or precaution can prevent will necessarily arise on a long voyage among what is necessarily a somewhat heterogeneous assemblage of persons under circumstances peculiar and novel. But I note that the rule is that our vessels arrive in good order, with all the necessary conditions of their service duly fulfilled, and that irregularities are exceptional, and form a very small average on the mass of cases. I do not hesitate to say that I owe much of the success of the emigration service to the capacity, experience, and zeal of Mr. Smith. I appointed him after having made most careful inquiry as to his fitness of the Emigration Commissioners, in whose service he had been for many years ; and from other highly trustworthy sources I received satisfactory testimony to his character. My personal observation has fully satisfied me that the character I received of him was well deserved. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. I. E. Featherston.

Enclosure in No. 51. Mr. E. A. Smith to the Agent-Geneeal. 7, "Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib, — 18th September, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that, in pursuance of your instructions, I have carefully perused the reports on the arrival of the various ships named in the margin,* and beg to enclose herewith such remarks as I have been able to make in answer to the various complaints contained in those reports. I have, &c, Edwd. A. Smith, R.N., I. E. Eeatherston, Esq., Agent-General for New Zealand. Despatching Officer. * Queen of the North, Schiehallion, Douglas, Duke of Edinburgh, Salisbury, Woodlark, Golden Sea, La Hogue, Star of India, Celestial Queen, Isfcs of the South, Atrato.

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